Ask a doctor on the topic of Neurology

Driving ban

February 24, 2015 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf

Hello.
I have a serious problem. I occasionally (under stress) experience deja vu episodes. I have the feeling that I have already experienced a situation before. However, this feeling goes away when I focus on something else.
I have been experiencing this for a few years now (maybe 5 or so). To rule out anything serious, I went to see a neurologist. EEG was normal. MRI was normal.
Now my neurologist thinks it could be temporal lobe epilepsy and he wants to prohibit me from driving a car!! What? I'm not supposed to drive a car because nothing was found. I need my driver's license for my job! I have never had any seizures or anything like that, and now I'm being told not to drive like a quack just says it could be epilepsy (could be, maybe not). What can I do now? Will this information be passed on to the driver's license office?
Further tests will be conducted at a neurological clinic, but this could take weeks!! Again, EEG and MRI are normal.
What can I do to fight against such a driving ban?

Thank you in advance.

Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf

Hello,

the neurologist does not pass his assessment - which is all it is - on to any official authority. Neither to the police nor to the driving license authority at the TÜV.

The only problem you could possibly face is if you were to have an accident and it turns out that you may have had a "blackout", and then someone finds out that you should have been aware of this due to the neurological assessment.

Despite understandable frustration: don't panic, nothing will happen for now.

If you would like to hear my opinion on further clarification: I would suggest getting a second opinion from another neurologist first, and only then consider further measures if necessary.

Best regards,

Dr. Schaaf